Boeing Reveals Patent for Solar-Powered Plane That Could Fly for Years

But don't expect to catch a sunlight-fueled flight to Hong Kong anytime soon.

When it comes to flying around slowly at stratospheric altitudes for long periods of time, blimps, dirigibles, and other airships are hard to beat. But as a patent application recently made public reveals, Boeing believes it can compete with those buoyant craft with a solar-powered drone aircraft.

According to the patent revelation, Boeing’s Phantom Works division applied for a patent in 2014 that outlines a “Solar Powered Aircraft.” Equipped with a concave flying wing design and near-vertical winglets up to 70 percent the length of the main wing, the craft resembles a giant U-shaped brace dotted with 10 propellers. Unlike commercial airlines such as the Boeing 787, those winglets aren't just for stability; they also gather low-angle sunlight, helping the Phantom Works drone hang in the sky for months or even years.

The patent application is vague as to the purpose of the stratospheric loiterer, stating, “For various reasons, it may be desirable to place a payload above a point on the earth’s surface for a relatively long time.” The public reason usually cited is communications, like providing Internet and cell service in remote areas; that’s why Google’s Project Loon played around with hot air balloons, and why Facebook is looking at solar-powered drones.